Local contamination is a major cause of early deep wound infections following open posterior lumbosacral fusions

Background: Postoperative surgical site infection in patients treated with lumbosacral fusion has been believed to be caused by perioperative contamination (perioperative inside-out infections) in patients with comorbidities. With the proximity of these incisions to the perianal region and limited patient mobility in the early postoperative period, local contamination from gastrointestinal and/or urogenital flora (postoperative outside-in infections) should be considered as a major source of complication. Methods: We conducted a single-centre, retrospective review of adult patients treated with open posterior lumbosacral fusions between January...